"One Stamp, Five Ways" - Simon Says Stamp November Card Kit

Hello Hello Hello! (yep, I owe you three since it's been a while!). Today my blog post is about the newest Simon Says Stamp card kit for November called Thankful Heart. It's up for sale starting today, October 14th! You can subscribe to their monthly card kits HERE to save money each month and to make sure you get one as they sell out almost every month. Here is an image of the kit which contains a gorgeous gold pigment ink, two envelopes, patterned paper and cardstock, a metal heart flower, and a sentiment stamp set:  This post is a "One Stamp, Five Ways" blog post highlighting the stamp set in the kit, but it also focuses on the gorgeous floral embossing plate (because I love flowers as you know!). Each of my five cards uses this embossing plate in a different way. So let's get started!

Look at that gorgeous gold envelope! I embossed watercolor paper and then rubbed the gold pigment ink pad all over the raised edges and then watercolored over the gold ink. I also embossed the sentiment. The stamp set has so many perfect thank you card sentiments written in the gorgeous handwriting of Kristina Werner. 

Steps:

1. Die cut a stitched rectangle out of Ranger watercolor paper with the smooth side up.
2. Run the rectangle through the die cut machine again using the embossing folder; make sure the stitched, smooth side is on the side of the embossing folder that will raise the edges.
3. Using a Ranger blending tool, rub the gold ink all over the images focusing on the raised edges - make sure they are saturated with gold ink, but also get some on the background (just lighter).
4. Watercolor (or use gouache as I did as it is more opaque) over the gold ink - the ink is pigment and easily blends with the water end paint giving the painted areas a beautiful gold sheen. Flick some red splotches over the entire piece. 
5. Once it is dry, rub some more gold ink over the top.
6. Attach to a cream card base from the cardstock in the kit. Die cut a small stitched rectangle from the leftover paper in the same color.
7. Stamp the word thanks and the smaller words for everything with Versamark Ink on the rectangle and emboss with Simon Says Stamp Antigue Gold embossing powder. Attach rectangle to bottom left corner of card.
8. Add some Pretty Pink Posh 4mm and 6mm gold sequins around the sentiment.

This card also focused on the embossing folder, but instead of embossing the entire piece, I positioned it on two corners running it through the die-cutting machine twice. I colored all of the images with Copic markers using the backside this time so the images are pressed down, not up. Even though this is a Fall kit, I wanted to make a card in my favorite colors with it.

Here are the steps:

1. Die cut a large stitched rectangle out of Neenah white cardstock. Position the rectangle in the embossing folder on two of the corners so you are only embossing a few of the elements - run it through your die cut machine twice - once for each corner. Make sure the stitching on the rectangle is placed on the side of the embossing folder that pressed the designs inward.
2. Color all of the flowers with Copic markers shading the insides of each flower. 
3. Die cut a stitched oval out of the top of the card overlapping some of the flowers just slightly.
4. Stamp the sentiment on the oval using Versamark Ink and emboss with blue embossing powder. 
5. Attach the card to a blue cardstock card base from the kit. Position the oval inside the opening and attach it as well.
6. Add some Pretty Pink Posh sequins in yellow and blue around the flowers overlapping the sentiment oval.

For this card, I embossed one of the patterned papers and then used a white uniball to outline all of the raised edges. Another option would be to just sand the color off the paper where it is raised as it has a white base. But I preferred the clean look of the pen. I also used the gorgeous metal flower on this one. I added some white embroidery floss to hold this piece on the card.

Steps:

1. Die cut a stitched rectangle the size of a card front out of the dark red patterned paper. Next, run it through the embossing folder with the raised edges up on the stitching side.
2. Outline all of the raised edges with a white uniball (or sand for a more distressed look). The Uniball gives you such an opaque white that I prefer this look.
3. Die cut a stitched circle (I used the SSS Stitched Circle dies) out of white cardstock.
4. Stamp the word "thankful" over and over around the edges of the circle with black ink. I slightly bent the stamp so it fit and this was my first attempt - I got really lucky that it fit the way it did!
5. Attach the circle to the bottom of the card and the rectangle to a white card base that has a top fold.
6. Use some white embroidery floss or white twine to tie the metal flower to the center of the circle wrapping it around to the inside of the card and tying it in place.

This card uses another take on watercoloring all of the raised images from the embossing folder (and some of the inside areas). I added details to these flowers using glitter markers and a gold uniball. the sentiment is also embossed on a stitched circle. This card is my favorite (although the photo is a bit blown out!). Which one is yours?

Steps:

1. Die cut a stitched rectangle from watercolor paper. Then run it through the embossing folder with the raised edges up.
2. Watercolor all of the flowers as well as the background with reds, oranges, and yellows. When painting the background, wet each area first and then add the color so it blends and stays light. 
3. Once the watercolor is dry, add details with a Gold Uniball (love this pen) and a White Uniball (love this one too as it is so opaque) and my new favorite pen set - the Kaiser Craft glitter pens (I used the red and yellow one). The pens make all the difference on this card - the glitter looks so pretty when you turn it sideways. Can you tell I love my pens?!?!?!
4. Die cut a stitched circle (I used the SSS Stitched Circle dies) out of watercolor paper. Watercolor it to match the card - I used yellow stripes. Stamp the sentiment with Versamark Ink and emboss with red embossing powder - I used the WOW Pink Lady embossing powder. Attach the circle to the bottom of the card.
5. And as always - add some Pretty Pink Posh yellow and Sparkling Clear sequins to the card to finish it.

This card matched the orange envelope in the kit perfectly, so I photographed it with that above. I used some embossed flowers rubbed with the gorgeous gold ink and I also embossed the sentiment with the ink since it is pigment and stays wet. 

Steps:

1. Create a card base with the cream cardstock in the kit. Die cut a stitched rectangle (I used MFT Blueprints 13) out of the burnt orange patterned paper. Die cut another stitched rectangle that is two sizes smaller out of the cream patterned paper.
2. Stamp the sentiment on the cream paper with the gold ink in the kit. It is a pigment ink so you can emboss right over it. I used Ranger clear embossing powder over it and embossed for a nice clear raised effect. 
3. Run a piece of Ranger Watercolor Paper through the embossing folder (I used this paper is it is thicker so it is better for cutting out images as I did here). Rub the gold ink pad all over the raised edges of the embossed flowers shown above. Cut them out around the white edges. 
4. Attach the burnt orange rectangle to the card base, then attach the cream rectangle. Attach the flowers overlapping this rectangle. 
5. Add some Pretty Pink Posh gold sequins in 4mm and 6mm sizes in the middle of the flowers and around the sentiment.

So there you go! How about that embossing folder, right? I feel like it works like a background stamp set as it is so easy to paint inside the images, or rub inks over it. I should have tried rubbing distress inks over the raised edges. This gave me all types of ideas to use my other embossing folders more. I think it is the best part of this months kit (well, ties with the gorgeous stamp set!). I hope you all have a wonderful day and enjoy the fall weekend! Thanks for visiting, Suzy

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Comments

[Jeanne]

Oh wow!!! Suzy, you've given me so many ideas for using my neglected embossing folders. Thank you SO much. I know you are highlighting this beautiful kit, but I love that I can take these great tecniques and use them on what I also own as well. Thank you SO much. I so appreciate that you take the time to write out what you do on each card, too. That gold ink looks fabulous and that flower embossing folder is lovely. I really like that you did one card in non fall colors. Really shows the versatility. Thanks so much for all the love and care you put into these fantastic posts. Have a magnificent weekend! Hugs!

[G]

Wow! I love these cards, what a great way to use the embossing folder. The colors just pop. So many ideas now! I think this is my favorite post 😍

[Carol L]

Hello Suzy! What beautiful cards you have made! I love the fall colors so the first card just knocked me out! I love how you used the embossing folder and colored in the flowers! Lots of different ideas to use!!! The steps that you include are so helpful. They also show just how much time and work you put into creating these cards. Thanks for sharing those steps and making it easier for us. This is a great card kit and you have done it proud!!! Happy weekend!

[Patty]

I just discovered your site. Love your cards and your creativity.

[DenaAnn Schaufele]

I love what you did with this kit. You are really challenging me to think out of the box for this kit.

[Misty Elam]

Love all the inspiration in this post. Can't wait to get my November kit!!

[Wendie]

I love the red & white card the most out of all these gorgeous cards. I have to admit that I'm not very fond of embossing folders, but you have shared such great ideas, I feel inspired to give it a go!